Chain-grate mechanism.



CHAIN GRATE MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 4. 1907.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

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PAUL L. CROWE, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, AND AARON FRANKENHEIM, OF NEWYORK, Y.; SAID FRANKENHEIM ASSIG-N OR TO SAID CROWE.

CHAIN-GRATIS MECHANISM.

Maasai.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led November 4, 1907. Serial No. 400,722.

Be it known that we, PAUL L. CRowE and AARON FnimKnNHniM, both citizens0f the United States, said PAUL L. Cnown a resident of Jersey City, inthe county of Hudson, State of New Jersey, and 'AARON FRANKENHEIM a,resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chain-GrateMechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to chain grate mechanism, and the object is toprovide improved means for mounting a traveling grate for conveyingfuel, properly distributed, over the surface thereof through thecombustion chamber of a furnace, so lthat there .will be satisfactoryand continuous combustion, with a minimum amount of smoke, the fuelbeing coked on the forward end of the grate surface at the time of igni?tion.

A further object is to provide means for mounting the frame carrylng thegrate within the furnace structure so that it may be withdrawntherefrom, and the said framel may be given a suitable inclination. andthe inclination varied for regulating the size of the fuel port,andthereby controlling the thickness of the layer of fuel upon thegrate, the surface of the grate and the adjoining furnace wall, at alltimes, forming a substantially continuous surface, with which the fuelis brought into contact.

A further object is to provide in improved form of bridge members forretarding the passage of the fuel over the lower portion of the grate inorder to allow time for its complete combustion.

A further object is to provide improved means for carrying the chainssupporting the grate bars, and means for connecting the said chains andgrate bars.

Other objects will appear from the following description In theaccompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a View of the grate mechanism in sideelevation. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of a portion of the chaingrate. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the grate Fig. 4is a perspective view of one of the standards supporting the outer endof the frame. Fig. 5 shows the means for supporting the inner end of theframe. Fig. 6 illustrates the upper and lower side bars of the frameconnected by astrut. Fig. 7 is a. vertical section through one of thesprocket wheels, showing the relation of the grate bars to such wheels.Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the sprocket wheel. Fig. 9 shows theportion of the sprocket wheel with the chain positioned thereon. Fig. 10is a perspective view of the dumping plate at the lower end of thegrate. Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing means for connecting thebridge members to the frame near the lower end of the latter. Fig. 12 isa top plan view of one of the bridge members. Fig. 13 is a sideelevation thereof.

In carrying out our invention we employ a. grate frame arrangedpreferably at an incline, and located mainly within the furnacestructure, but projecting therefrom to a. slight extent at its upper andouter end, in order to afford means for feeding fuel to the said upperend and controlling the fuel supply by the position of the grate and theresulting distance between the latter and the adjacent portion of thefurnace wall and fuel hopper.

In Fig. 1 the grate frame is shown in side elevation, the portion of thefurnace wall above the frame, being indicated by 10, and a-portion ofthe front of the furnace structure below the grate frame, heiligindicated by 15. The grate frame proper consists of upper and lower sidebars, the upper bars 16 being formed of ordinary bar iron, and the lowerbars 17 parallel with bars 16, consisting of angle bars of usual form.Bars 16 and 17 are connected by means of struts 18, bolted respectivelyto the upper and lower bars of the frame, in the manner shown in Fig. 6,and bars 16 have bolted to the outer surface thereof, angle bars 19 and20, forming substantially a channel member overlapping a ledge 2lprojecting from the side wall 22 of the furnace. bars 16 are connectednear their lower ends by an angle bar 23 affixed to the angle bars 19 inthe manner shown more clearly in Fig. 11, and mounted upon the anglebars are bridge members hereinafter described. The grate frame iscarried indirectly upon standards at its upper and lower ends. At theupper end a plurality of standards 24 support a transverse shaft 25.carrying a hub 26, upon which the side bars 16 of the grate frame aresupported. These side bars are cut away at 27 as shown in Fig. 1, inorder Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Upper side los y nection as above explained. A dumpingplate 32 isconnected at 33 to the lower end of the frame, and a connecting member34 secured to the lower side of the dumping plate 32, is pivotallyconnected at 35 with bar 36 extending the full length of the grateframe, and supported at 37 upon a projection formed on standard 24.

Idlers 38 are carried upon hollow shafts 39 located between side bars16, and are designed to support the chains 40, which carry the gratebars 41. The hollow shafts 39 are connected to sidebars 17 by means ofpins 42, and the said pins are secured by cotter pins 43. Idlers 44 arecarried bythe lower side bars 17 of the frame, and are mounted upon pins45 secured by bolt 46 to side bars 1 cotter pins 47 holding the idlerslast mentioned in position. These idlers 44 support the grate barson'the lower run of the traveling grate. i

The bridge member is connected with the angle bar 23 secured to thelower portion ofthe grate frame, and extending transversely thereof,such bridge member consisting of a plurality of bridge bars 50 formedvin the manner shown in Figs. 12 and 13. lThe said bridge bars are curvedon their Vupper surface and afford no obstruction to the passage of thefuel thereover, other than the obstruction due to the elevation of thesaid bars above'the upper surface of the grate. Slots 51 formed in thelower side of the bars correspond in configuration to the transversesection of angle bar 23 and afford means for interlocking the bridgebars with the angle bar. The bridge bars 50 are merely connectedwith'the bar 23' by passing the slotted portion over one end of bar 23,suflicient space for the purpose being provided. The bars 50 alsointerlock at the ends farthest removed from angle bar 23, in order toprevent movement in a vertical direction at that end and also to preventmovement of one bridge bar independently of the adjoining bar. Thisresult l.is effected by providing a recess 52 on one side of each bridgebar and a projection 53, on the opposite side for engaging thecorresponding recess in an adjoining bar.

The fuel in passing downwardly over the surface of the grate will besomewhat retarded by the bridge member and any fuel which has not beencompletely consumed, will be consumed at this point, so that only therefuse will pass over the bridge member to the dumping plate 32. Inorder to vary the amount of fuel Afed to the upper end of the grate, thestandards 24 are adjustable in two directions. A threaded member 54 isconnected with the lower end of each of the standards and is arranged toengage one of the apertures 55 in the plate 56. The upper end of thestandard 24 is provided with a `set screw 57 arranged to bear against aA portion of the front wall of the furnace, and it will be apparent thatby adjusting screw 57 the inclination of the standards 24 may be varied,thereby increasing the tension on the chains and taking up any of theslack therein. This construction produces a slightly uneven surface ofthe grate from time to time, which is desirable in the properdistribution of the fuel. If the chains become unduly slack throughwear, the lower end of the standard may be inserted in an aperture 55farther from the wall of the furnace. The chains 40 carried upon idlers38 and upon sprocket wheels 60, carry the grate bars 41 as above stated,and we regard as important the manner of connecting the grate bars andchains.

In the drawings several forms of connection are shown. In Fig. 3, oneend of the grate bar is provided with a pinI 61 extending horizontallytherefrom and with a pin 62 extending vertically through the grate bar,both pins projecting in the plane of the web of the bar, which web iscut away at each end in order to provide suitable connection between thegrate bars, chains and supporting device. The chains are so arranged asshown in Fig. 3, that a horizontally disposed link will be opposite avertlcally disposed link, and the horizontal and vertical pins along oneside of the series of grate bars therefore alternate. In inserting thegrate bars in the chains, the horizontal pins 61 are thrusted laterallyinto the'vertical links 63, and the pin 62 at the opposite end isallowed to drop into the horizontal link 64 where it is secured by meansof pin 65. v

The subject-matter of the chain and bar connections is claimed insubstance in subsequent applications filed March 9, 1914, Serial Number823,388 (patented November 3, 1i914, No. 1,115,904), and November 21,1914, Serial Number 873,272.

In order to protect the grate mechanism from undue heat, we haveprovided, as previously described, means for collecting ashes betweenthe sides of the traveling grate, and the furnace structure. Theoverlapping angle bars 19 and 20 and the ledge 21 connected with theside wall of the ful;- nace, afford, therefore, a substantiallycontinuous support with which the fuel is i-,iaenai brought intocontact, there being no space -at the sides for allowing fuel to dropbeprovided with-a flanged member 80 extending therefrom and having teeth81 for en- .gaging the links of the chain. These teeth have curved cutaway portions '82- on their inner sides corresponding to the form of thelinks. A groove 83 adjoins the flanged porr tion 80 and is provi dedwith flat surfaces as shown in Fig. 9 at 84, for receiving the ila-tside of the vertical links. The horizontal linkrests partly upon theportion 85 on the side of the groove opposite to the portion 80, andadjacent to portion 85 is a series of. teeth 86 arranged to engage theend portions of the grate bars. A conical portion 87 adjoins the seriesof teeth 86 and supports the portion of the grate bar shown at 88 inFig. 7 -1 The sprocket wheels, formed as described, support and drivethe chains and the connected grate bars in a most eiiicient manner, andtheyalso provide for the removal of individual-grate bars at the outerend of the grate frame by withdrawing pins 89 through the cut awayportions 90 between the teeth 81, of portion 80. It is thus possible todetach individual Grate bars from any portion of the traveling grate forthe purpose of renewing the same from time to `time. The grate bars havelateral projections 91 at their central portions, oppositely arranged asshown in Fig. 2, so that endwise thrust of the bars is prevented.Perforations 92 in the bars 41 afford air space.

The subject matter of the sprocket wheel is claimed in detail inapplication filed under date of March 9, 1914, Serial No. 823,387.

By forming the grate bars in the manner shown in Fig. 1, with the flangeat one side of the web, the bars will not be caught by the bridge bars.It is obvious that the portion ofthe grate bar first passing under thebridge is at a less distance from the pivotal portion of the grate barthan the outer edge of the flange. Were the flange to, extend on bothsides of the web, the edge first passing under the bridge would beelevated sufliciently to come into contact with the bridge.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a device of the class described, afurnace structure formed with a ledge projecting inwardly from thesurface of the wall thereof, a supporting frame arranged therein, thesides of the frame abutting such ledge, whereby the frame is spaced fromthe wall of the structure, means for pivotally mounting one end of theframe, standards mounted adjacent the opposite end of the frame, gratesupporting devices carried by the frame and by said standards, barscarried by the sides of the frame and overlapping the ledge, and atraveling grate carried by the grate supporting devices, the surface -ofsuch grate being disposed above the surface of the ledge providing anopen ash receptacle above such ledge and alongside the grate.

2. In a device of the class described, a furnace structure having aledge projecting inwardly from the surface of the wall thereof, a framemounted within the structure, and abutting the edge of the ledge, agrate supported within the frame, the surface of the grate beingdisposed above the upper surface of the ledge whereby an open ashreceptacle is formed above such ledge, and alongside the grate', barscarried by the sides of the frame and overlapping said ledge, an anglebar extending transversely of the frame and connected with oppositesides thereof, said angle bar being secured to the bars overlapping theledge.

3. In a device of the class described, a supporting frame, means forpivotally mounting one end of the frame within a furnace structure,standards vertically and laterally adjustably mounted adjacent theopposite end of the frame and without the furnace structure, atransverse horizontal shaft carried by the standards and supportedindependently of the frame, a hub for said shaft, portions of one end ofthe frame being arranged to rest on said hub, sprocket wheels carried bythe shaft, plate supporting devices mounted in the opposite end of theframe, a traveling grate arranged to have motion imparted thereto bysaid shaft and sprocket wheels, hollow shafts mounted be tween themembers of the frame, idler wheels carried at the ends of the hollowshafts for supporting the traveling grate at points intermediate of theends, and means whereby either' wheel of each shaft may be detachedindependently of the other, said means including pins projecting intothe ends of the hollow shafts and secured to the latter and to theframe.

4. In a device of the class described, a supporting frame, means forpivotally mounting one end of the frame within a furnace structure,standards vertically and laterally adjustably mounted adjacent theopposite end `of the frame and without the furnace structure, atransverse horizontal shaft carried by the standard-s, and supportedindependently of the frame, a hub for said shaft, portions of one end ofthe frame bein arranged to rest on said hub, sprocket w eels carried bythe shaft, grate supporting devices mounted in the opposite end of theframe, and a traveling grate arranged to have motion imparted thereto bysaid shaft and sprocket Wheels, an engaging device on one of thestandards, a dumping member mounted at one end of the traveling grate, arod connected with such member and arranged to be held againstdisplacement by such engaging device, an angle bar extendingtransversely of the grate adjacent to the dumping member, and aplurality of bridge members slidable transversely thereof, and rigidlyysecured against movement at an angle to such transverse movement.

5. In a vdevice of the class described, a frame, a. traveling gratemounted therein, a bridge extending transversely of the grate near oneend thereof, said bridge consisting of a plurality of bars the upperedges of which extend in a continuous curve whereby the movement of thematerial thereover is rendered uniform, said bars each provided with anL-shaped slot, and a laterally projecting lug arranged to engage acorresponding aperture in an adjoining bar, and an angle bar arrangedtransversely of the frame, such L-shaped slots in the bridge barsengaging the angle bar.

6. In a device of the class described, a furnace structure, a framemounted therein, said frame comprising upper side bars, angle barsconnected therewith, lower side bars, and devices connecting the upperand lower bars, a ledge formed on the wall of the structure andprojecting from the inner surface thereof, the sides of the frameabutting the ledge, and a grate mounted within the frame, the surface ofthe grate being disposed above the surface of the ledge, whereby an openash channel is formed above such .ledge and alongside the grate.

7. In a device of the class described, a frame, a plurality of endlesschains mounted therein, a series of grate bars connected with thechains, and sprocket wheels for driving the chains, said sprocket wheelseach comprising a body portion provided with a groove having a series offlattened faces for engaging the straight'portions of alternate links,va series of teeth with cutaway portions on their inner edges adjoiningsaid groove, means on the opposite side of the groove for receiving thefiat sides of links alternating with the links first mentioned, gratebar engaging devices projecting from the body portion in a planeparallel with the teeth, and chain engaging devices on the grate bars,said sprocket wheels being provided with recesses through which thechain engaging devices may be removed.

8. In a device of the class described, a frame, means for mounting alurality of endless chains therein, a series of grate bars, pinssecuredto the ends of each of the gratebars for engaging the links of thechains, one of the pins on each bar projecting downwardly and the otherprojecting longitudinally in the plane of the web of the bar, and lugsprojecting laterally from a thickened portion of the web of each of thegrate bars and arranged to engage correspondingly formed lugs on theadjacent bars, the said lugs being reversely arranged and preventingendwise movement of the grate bars in one direction, the downwardlyextending pins preventing such movement in the opposite direction.

9. In a device of the class described, a furnace structure, a framemounted therein, said frame comprising upper side bars, angle barsconnected therewith, lower side bars, and devices connecting the upperand lower bars, a ledge formed on the wall structure and projecting fromthe inner surface thereof between the angle bars, the sides of the framebeing adjacent to the ledge and spaced from the wall to permit radiationof heat, and a grate within the frame, means for mounting the grate inthe frame, the grate surface being independent of said frame, beingdisposed above the ledge, and forming an open channel above the ledgeand at the side of the grate.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this31st day of October A. D. 1907.

PAUL L. CROWE. AARON FRANKENHEIM.

Witnesses:

FRANK J. DUFFY, O. BARRITT.

